Written by Jo Beales

Rhyme Time 2010

At the time of writing Rhyme Time has been running for three and a half years. They say time goes quickly when you’re having fun and Rhyme Time has definitely been good fun!

One of the best things about running a group is seeing the children grow up and gradually take a more active part in the songs and actions. Some of the children who were babies when we first started are now energetic three year olds, some of whom come with baby brothers and sisters.

Last September, due to the growth and success of the group, we moved Rhyme Time from my home on Cedars Park down to the Hillside Community Centre at Combs Ford. To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive as to how it would go. A living room has a very different feel to a community space. However, it has proved to be a good move. Some people feel more comfortable being in a public space and we have much more room for the group to expand.

Everyone is welcome at Rhyme Time. Most of our enquiries are word of mouth – friends inviting friends. By Christmas last year we’d filled the room we were using, so we now run two sessions on a Tuesday morning. While not hard and fast, the first session tends to lean more towards older toddlers and the second to smaller babies and crawlers. With this in mind, we are now able to make each session a bit more age specific, with more finger and nursery rhymes for the babies and more boisterous active songs for the older group. A Rhyme Time session lasts for an hour, half of which is music, the other half social and play.

During the music time we make use of a wide pool of songs, some very traditional (which you’d remember from your childhood!) and some more modern. As well as actions, we have different props such as finger gloves (currant buns, spacemen) plastic animals, a rather big spider (for Little Miss Muffet) and even a parachute! About half way through we tip out what is now quite a large box of percussion instruments including drums, very loud cymbals, shakers, bells and tambourines. They play along to such favourites as I Am the Music Man, while I endeavour to make my singing heard, as well as play the keyboard. Instrument time is not for the faint-hearted! Plenty of noise and enthusiasm, but it’s also educational as they are learning about different sounds – loud and quiet and most importantly, when to stop!

I think one reason for Rhyme Time’s success is that our social time over a cup of tea or coffee is a great time to meet new people, which from experience is good news if you’re new to the area (or even to parenthood!) There are plenty of toys to keep the children amused while you chat with friends.

So what are you waiting for? Rhyme Time is free to come to, so give it a go! We meet Tuesday mornings 9:30 am to 10:30 am, and 10:30 am to 11:30 am, term time in the front room at the Hillside Community Centre in Combs Ford. For more information, contact the Church office on 01449 774000.
Hope to see you soon.